Arcon Evo architectural design software has been specially developed to provide architects, developers and building professionals with a one-stop solution to their CAD requirements. Easy to use, with a drag-and-drop environment but with a powerful and flexible range of options to suit all building design needs.

With a comprehensive set of tools suitable for all aspects of building design, Arcon Evo will enable you to easily draw your building to levels suitable for planning submissions, add detailing and working drawings for building control and visualize it in a detailed 3D model.

System Requirements:

Windows Based PC (10/8/7/Vista),

2Gb RAM,1.2Gb

Hard drive space.

Supplied by digital download (approx 1Gb).

PDF manuals included

Details

Interface

All New interface

Arcon Evo represents the next level of 2D to 3D CAD solutions. Our all new design is based on years of experience and feedback from our thousands of users worldwide. Retaining the simplicity of earlier Arcon titles but with a streamlined interface, Arcon Evo is intuitive and fast to use whilst allowing complex, detailed adjustments to be made to any design.

User selectable interface elements

With our large international user base, we recognise that users often have different preferences and requirements.

New to Arcon Evo is the ability to select your preferred icon set and choose whether to use traditional OK/Cancel buttons or the new dynamic dialogue box options.

2D to 3D instantly

Arcon Evo enables you to draw in a more flexible environment than ever before. With two distinct workspaces, you can quickly and accurately design floor plans in our 2D construction mode and check the results instantly in the 3D model in design mode.

Multiple views & styles

Arcon Evo provides a variety of different view types to suit all requirements and styles. Each of these can be further customised with line styles, patterns and colours. As well as standard 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, you can use sketch mode, colour overlays and numerous surface toggles to ensure you show your designs at their best.

Database driven construction elements

Arcon Evo comes with a large library of elements as standard with a huge range of doors, windows, wall types etc. Make your own content either by editing and existing element to suit your needs or creating something from scratch to fulfil your needs.

Save your custom elements to the database for future use. This fully flexible approach means you can create almost any element, wall type, door or window design. You design. Your way.

Inline measurements

The perfect visual tool for spacing, sizing, measuring and adjusting your building elements. Our NEW in-line measurement tool provides a fast, easy and visual method to make changes to the elements of your design quickly and easily. Usable in both 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, in-line measurements can be used to change sizes and positions of doors, windows, walls, roofs etc. Lock parts of the element that you don’t want to be effected or show the effects of drag-and-drop re-positioning.

Drag & drop or numeric input methods

Everyone has their preferred working methods and styles and so in Arcon we reflect this by providing multiple methods for achieving construction tasks. Use simple drag & drop to insert objects, point and click to place walls or use numeric input methods to enter dimensions such as wall lengths.

Database & Toolset

Fully customisable doors & windows

Arcon Evo comes complete with a large database of editable pre-designed doors and windows, including internal and external doors, garage doors and bi-folding windows.

Using the component editor, each object can be fully edited including dimensions, materials, colours and styles. Go further and expand the options to edit details such as hinge and handle sizes and styles, frame thickness, opening type. Select your preferred 2D display and fully edit reveals, sills and wall connections.

Create your own doors and windows from scratch or edit an existing design. Save your designs to the database for future drag-and-drop use.

Textures and materials

All elements of a design can be easily enhanced by using textures and materials to change the appearance and decor. Arcon Evo comes complete with a comprehensive database of textures and materials including brickwork, roof tiles, rendered finishes, flooring, paint colours and more.

3D furniture and objects

Making use of Elecosofts own o2c technology, we can provide a library with over 8000 individual 3D objects for use in your projects. The o2c file format allows us to keep model file size to a minimum making it easier to furnish your designs.

Furniture objects can be added using drag-and-drop and manipulated to edit the size, colour, angle etc. Import objects in 3DS or DAE format and save them back to your database in super compressed o2c format.

2D symbols

In addition to providing the facility to furnish and decorate your designs in 3D, Arcon is also adept and enabling detailed 2D drawings to be easily created. Suitable for use in creating working drawings, site plans, planning drawings and building regulations drawings.

The 2D symbol library contains a selection of detailed pre-drawn blocks for sanitary, electrical, heating, scale objects as well as textures for common building materials. Again these are all fully editable or you can add more either by drawing from scratch or importing CAD blocks from other sources.

2D Construction Mode

New room planning option

One of a number of different ways to construct a design in Arcon Evo, the room planning tool enables you to build a complete floor plan one room at a time. Select a room shape which closest matches to the design you have in mind and add to your plan area. Then add a dimension for each wall to create an accurate sized room. Repeat the process with other rooms to create a full floor plan

Rooms created with the room planner tool can then be split into their component parts for further editing using the standard wall tools.

Multiple door styles

Our doors library contains many standard door types covering internal and external doors as well as garage doors, patio doors and an ALL NEW bi-fold door tool.

The door library is just the starting point. All of the door components can be edited in great detail to ensure your project represents the elements you are using on your build.

Comprehensive window options

The extensive window customisation tools allow for endless variations to be produced. Select a window from the existing library and change any aspect to ensure it suits your design requirements. Save your selections, preferences and new designs to the window library for future projects.

Fully flexible staircase designer

Using the same layout principles as previous Arcon titles, the flexible staircase tool now allows for much greater freedom of design. Choose from a myriad of options to define all elements of the stairs, balustrades, risers and treads. Customise your 2D display to suit your preferred presentation style.

Complex roof designs made simple

Taking our expertise in simplifying the creation of complex roof structures a stage further, our new roof designer provides clearer dialogue options to help understand the elements that can be controlled. With more flexible details available to each roof side, the construction and display of even the most complex of roofs is easier than ever before.

Dormer windows

Create unique designs using the powerful dormer window tools. With all of the standard dormer styles available from a single menu option. Select the correct profile and customise as required with full control over pitch, window size and quantity and advanced options such as roof breaks.

Powerful trim and edit tools

Arcon Evo helps you to automatically trim, mitre and join construction elements and line drawing details. Combined with the use of snap and guideline functions, the drawing of you floor plans will be quick and easy. On occasion however, you may find you need to edit elements of your drawing to change shape, direction, angle or even the wall junction.

Arcon comes complete with a full range of editing tools to allow you complete control to amend your designs.

Scaled drawing with full dimension tools

Scaled drawings often need to be annotated with precise information confirming sizes, angles, distances etc. 3D Architect comes complete with a full quota of dimension types to suit all requirements. From simple distance measurements right through to radial and arc dimensions, you can ensure you can fully annotate your drawings.

Instant elevations, easy cross-sections

Due to the technology involved in providing 3D models from 2D floor-plans, Arcon can quickly produce elevation views for your designs. Commonly required as part of the planning process, elevations provide a scaled 2D view of each face of the building (normally from the standard compass points of North, East, South and West).

Arcon Evo enables you to generate your elevations automatically, using the height settings already defined as part of the standard drawing process. Add cross-sections quickly by defining the view point using the section tool and reviewing or editing further in Plan Mode.

Metric and imperial measurement units

Unlike similar systems, Arcon is created to cater for either metric or imperial measurement units. Define your preferred units for each project whether it’s metres, millimetres or feet and inches. Even swap from metric and imperial and back again at anytime.

Powerful measuring and ruler tools

For simple design ideas, drawings in Arcon can easily be created freehand. However for the majority of projects you will need to know that your plans are accurate. Arcon software contains many tools to ensure that your drawing elements are spaced and aligned correctly. With powerful guidelines, rulers, origins, grids and measures you can be certain that your plans will be correct every time.

Automatic and manual dimension tools

2d plans and elevations in Arcon are always drawn to scale (which you have full control over) and accordingly there are many ways of displaying important dimensions and measurements. Set automatic dimensions to display as you draw, choose from many styles of dimension line to add manually, use height point dimensions on elevations and cross-sections, easily add room areas and volumes and even angle dimensions.

Customisable wall construction types

Walls come complete with a number of standard settings in the library. These wall settings can be completely customised to change the library or create your own for future projects. Walls can be completely customised right down to specifying each individual layer of a wall.

Detailed stairs editor

Generate complex stair forms. You can adjust the parameters and see the changes instantly in 3D. Supports many stair types. When placed, stairs will automatically create a ceiling cutout for the stairwell..

Produce simple or complex roof designs

For simple roof constructions you can select from any of the standard roof types in the library and simply drag and drop into position and amend pitch etc. as required. Alternatively use the free form roof editor to create complex roof designs for more unusual shaped buildings. Easily edit the roof settings from pitch and eaves height right through to wood construction details. Then modify the roof easily with dedicated tools for dormer windows and skylights.

New to Arcon Evo is the ability to merge and intersect multiple roofs. For complex designs, create the roof shape with multiple separate roof sections and then simply intersect them together to make a single structure with fully adjustable timbers.

Integrate balconies and custom railings

Balconies can be attached to your floor plans using the simple balcony outline tool. Define the size and placement of the balcony and it will automatically integrate with your existing walls, placing parapet walls and/or railings where needed. Take full control of the railings to change style, size, and shape right down to specifying the fitting method. Use the independent railing tool to manually add rails around decks, walkways or gallery landings.

Advanced wall outline editing

Take full control of the profile of your walls for maximum design flexibility. Decide how and where walls interact with features such as stairs and roofs. Manually edit individual wall profiles to recreate unusual shapes, architectural features of even garden walls.

Modify existing walls with flexible editing tools

The Arcon system provides you with the flexibility to produce drawings in your own way and when you need to change your plans, nothing could be simpler. With a complete suite of wall editing options available, amending, modifying or adding to your drawings is quick and intuitive. Simply select the tool that matches what you want to change and edit the wall. With options to enable you to change lengths, angles, wall ends, splitting walls, merging and trimming walls you can always ensure your designs can evolve with your requirements.

3D Design Mode

Automatically create a 3D model

In Arcon Evo, we draw our plans in a traditional 2D plan view. The system then automatically creates the 3D model which you can view in a single click of the mouse. In 3D you can then change the look and style of the model.

Drag and drop objects and textures

The objects and textures databases are accessed from the appropriate icons primarily in 3D design mode. Navigate easily through the categories of objects and textures and simply drag them into you model to apply the finish or insert the object. Objects and textures are easily and fully adjustable: re-scale, set orientation, position as required for the desired effect. Add objects and textures to the database easily to expand your library.

Over 8000 furniture items and objects included

The standard library contains over 7000 3d models for the furnishing and fittings of your project. Included are objects for bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, dining, gardens, offices and many more. All objects can be amended and modified, resized and adjusted as required.

Over 4500 textures and materials for decoration

Apply textures to surfaces, objects, fixtures and fittings to change their appearance and style. The add materials to provide reflective surfaces, glass properties and mirrored finishes.

Add realism with 3D textures

Making use of specific 3D templates which match the applied texture, add additional depth to your textures such as brickwork and roof tiles. Applying the 3D texture option gives a sense of 'relief' to appropriate textures and enhances the visualisations.

Increase your library with import options

Need a specific texture or object? Can't find anything suitable in the library? Easily add to the library to increase your options. Textures can be added in common image formats (BMP/JPG/PNG/TIF), enabling you to take images from the web, catalogues or you own images. Furthermore add more 3d objects to your catalogue by importing files (3DS/DAE).

Add objects direct from Sketchup 3D warehouse

Access hundreds of thousands of additional 3D objects using the direct link to Sketchup 3D Warehouse. Simply follow the link in the furnishing menu, search for an object and load it direct into any plan, providing a limitless source of detailed furniture and objects.

3D virtual walk through

Analyze your design in detail with the 3d walk through function. Enter and explore your 3d model to check for space issues and practicality of design. With animated door and window information, check your plans will work for you.

Define the site, plot or landscape

Use the define landscape tool to mark the boundaries of your building plot or site. Break the area down into individual gardens, driveways and paths using the ground area tool. The add contours using the land topography tools or even individual height points for a realistic visualisation of your building plot.

With the ALL NEW terrain brush, use your mouse to organically create contours on the plot, apply different brushes for paths, streams, garden beds and more.

Enhance your 3d scene with picture backgrounds

Select from one of the photographic backgrounds included or use your own to provide a greater insight into how your design will look in situ.

Check lighting and shadows

By selecting to use the variable daylight settings to light your 3d model, you are able to select your location anywhere in the world by entering your latitude and longitude (which can be imported from Google Maps).See a fully rendered scene with customisable lighting options to show reflections, shadows and bump-mapped textures.

Plan Layout Mode

Fully integrated layout and detailing mode

With the new 'Plan Layout Mode' you can produce any combination of drawings on a single sheet. Easily add floor plans, elevations, cross-sections and 3D views to a single sheet. Full control over scale of each element means you can add detail sections to the same sheet as standard elevations.

Save plan layouts

Create your preferred layout or a selection of layouts for different purposes (planning submissions, building regulations, site plans, plumbing, heating and electrics plans etc).Quickly apply a layout to any project to produce consistent professional drawings quickly.

General Features

Compatible with projects from classic Arcon

For over 15 years, Arcon has been the choice home design software system for thousands of building professionals, architects and self-builders.For users of older Arcon versions, upgrade with confidence knowing you can still open and edit any existing projects.

No previous CAD knowledge required

One of the main advantages of the Arcon Evo system over a traditional CAD system is the use of a modular toolset. Designed specifically for building design we have been able to create an intuitive set of modules to guide you logically through the design process. This means it’s simple for anyone to learn, both experienced professionals and novice amateurs embarking on their first self-build project.

Easy to use interface for planning and design

The modular toolset enables us to provide tools and icons for specific elements of the design in a logical manner. Easily identifiable, each tool will guide you through a particular part of the design process and will be familiar to anyone having used Windows based software. Each tool can be customised and adapted to your preferred drawing style with full flexible options, easily accessed at any time.

Import options

With a wide variety of file types that can be imported into an Arcon Evo project, it's simple to make use of existing materials and projects:

DXF/DWG - Import standard CAD files, ideal to use as an existing basis for a plan, for site plans or for detail blocks for building control drawings

Images - Easily add supporting images, company logos, site photographs etc. into your plan layouts using the most common image file types (JPG/PNG/BMP/GIF/TIF)

Export options

Sharing your designs with friends, family, your builders or architect is essential to a successful building project. Arcon Evo allows you to easily communicate your designs with others in multiple ways:

DXF/DWG - Export your 2D designs in CAD format which can be opened in most CAD programs

PDF - Create complete plan layouts and export them into the standard PDF file format for sharing or submitting through the planning portal

Image - Save images of either 2D or 3D views to common images formats for sharing, adding to presentations or websites for example (JPG/PNG/BMP/GIF/TIF)

IFC - BIM compatible file sharing format for use with other BIM enabled applications such as costing and project management applications

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Key Features of this Edition

2D to 3D in an instant

The 3D Architect Home Designer enables you to draw in a more flexible environment than ever before. With two distinct workspaces, you can quickly and accurately design floor plans in our 2D construction mode and check the results instantly in the 3D model in design mode.

Room planning mode

One of a number of different ways to construct a design in 3D Architect Home Designer, the room planning tool enables you to build a complete floorplan one room at a time. Select a room shape which closest matches to the design you have in mind and add to your plan area. Then add a dimension for each wall to create an accurate sized room. Repeat the process with other rooms to create a full floorplan.

Rooms created with the room planner tool can then be split into their component parts for further editing using the standard wall tools.

Multiple Views

3D Architect Home Designer provides a variety of different view types to suit all requirements and styles. Each of these can be further customised with line styles, patterns and colours. As well as standard 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, you can use sketch mode, colour overlays and numerous surface toggles to ensure you show your designs at their best.

In-line Measurements

The perfect visual tool for spacing, sizing, measuring and adjusting your building elements. Our NEW in-line measurement tool provides a fast, easy and visual method to make changes to the elements of your design quickly and easily. Usable in both 2D construction mode and 3D design mode, in-line measurements can be used to change sizes and positions of doors, windows, walls, roofs etc. Lock parts of the element that you don’t want to be effected or show the effects of drag-and-drop re-positioning.

Doors

Door_dialog1 Our doors library contains many standard door types covering internal and external doors as well as garage doors, patio doors and an ALL NEW bil-fold door tool.

The door library is just the starting point. All of the door components can be edited in great detail to ensure your project represents the elements you are using on your build.

Flexible design choices for windows

The extensive window customisation tools allow for endless variations to be produced. Select a window from the existing library and change any aspect to ensure it suits your design requirements. Save your selections, preferences and new designs to the window library for future projects.

Staircase customisation tools

Using the same layout principles as previous Arcon titles, the flexible staircase tool now allows for much greater freedom of design. Choose from a myriad of options to define all elements of the stairs, balustrades, risers and treads. Customise your 2D display to suit you preferred presentation style.

Complex roof designs made simple

Taking our expertise in simplifying the creation of complex roof structures a stage further, our new roof designer provides clearer dialogue options to help understand the elements that can be controlled. With more flexible details available to each roof side, the construction and display of even the most complex of roofs is easier than ever before.

Dormer roof editor

DormersCreate unique designs using the powerful dormer window tools. With all of the standard dormer styles available from a single menu option. Select the correct profile and customise as required with full control over pitch, window size and quantity and advanced options such as roof breaks.

Plot Tools

Landscaping

TerrainGeo_positionAs part of the property design process, add in the details of your plot and use the landscaping tools to shape and contour your garden. Add individual height points to replicate known topography for a realistic representation of the property and plot in full 3D.

Use the in-built Google Maps function to locate the geographical co-ordinates of your plot and then use these to give accurate sun and shadow movements.

Powerful editing and trimming tools

Drawing3D Architect helps you to automatically trim, mitre and join construction elements and line drawing details. Combined with the use of snap and guideline functions, the drawing of you floorplans will be quick and easy. On occasion however, you may find you need to edit elements of your drawing to change shape, direction, angle or even the wall junction.

3D Architect comes complete with a full range of editing tools to allow you complete control to amend your designs.

Scaled drawing with full dimension tools

Dimensions Scaled drawings often need to be annotated with precise information confirming sizes, angles, distances etc. 3D Architect comes complete with a full quota of dimension types to suit all requirements. From simple distance measurements right through to radial and arc dimensions, you can ensure you can fully annotate your drawings.

Instant Elevations

Due to the technology involved in providing 3D models from 2D floor-plans, 3D Architect can quickly produce elevation views for your designs. Commonly required as part of the planning process, elevations provide a scaled 2D view of each face of the building (normally from the standard compass points of North, East, South and West).

3D Architect enables you to generate your elevations automatically, using the height settings already defined as part of the standard drawing process.

Used by architects & building professionals worldwide

For over 15 years, Arcon has been the choice home design software system for thousands of building professionals, architects and self-builders. Working closely with our users we continue to develop and support our Arcon system to ensure it can be adapted to even the most demanding design project.

No CAD knowledge required

One of the main advantages of the Arcon system over a traditional CAD system is the use of a modular toolset. Designed specifically for building design we have been able to create an intuitive set of modules to guide you logically through the design process. This means it’s simple for anyone to learn, both experienced professionals and novice amateurs embarking on their first self-build project.

Easy to use interface for planning and design

The modular toolset enables us to provide tools and icons for specific elements of the design in a logical manner. Easily identifiable, each tool will guide you through a particular part of the design process and will be familiar to anyone having used Windows based software. Each tool can be customised and adapted to your preferred drawing style with full flexible options, easily accessed at any time.

2D plans to 3D models in a single click

Creating realistic 3d models for visualisation couldn’t be simpler. Draw your floorplans in a traditional 2d plan view and your 3d model is created automatically at the same time. With a single mouse click or key press you can then enter the 3d mode to view your design, modify finishes and fittings and take a virtual tour of your building.

Drag & drop or numeric input methods

Everyone has their preferred working methods and styles and so in Arcon we reflect this by providing multiple methods for achieving construction tasks. Use simple drag & drop to insert objects, point and click to place walls or use numeric input methods to enter dimensions such as wall lengths.

Metric and imperial measurement units

Unlike similar systems, Arcon is created to cater for either metric or imperial measurement units. Define your preferred units for each project whether it’s metres, millimetres or feet and inches. Even swap from metric and imperial and back again at anytime.

Powerful measuring and ruler tools

For simple design ideas, drawings in Arcon can easily be created freehand. However for the majority of projects you will need to know that your plans are accurate. Arcon software contains many tools to ensure that your drawing elements are spaced and aligned correctly. With powerful guidelines, rulers, origins, grids and measures you can be certain that your plans will be correct every time.

Automatic and manual dimensions tools

2d plans and elevations in Arcon are always drawn to scale (which you have full control over) and accordingly there are many ways of displaying important dimensions and measurements. Set automatic dimensions to display as you draw, choose from many styles of dimension line to add manually, use height point dimensions on elevations and cross-sections, easily add room areas and volumes and even angle dimensions.

Customisable wall construction types

Walls come complete with a number of standard settings in the library. These wall settings can be completely customised to change the library or create your own for future projects. Walls can be completely customised right down to specifying each individual layer of a wall.

Stairs editor

Generate complex stair forms. You can adjust the parameters and see the changes instantly in 3D. Supports many stair types. When placed, stairs will automatically create a ceiling cutout for the stairwell..

Produce simple or complex roof designs

For simple roof constructions you can select from any of the standard roof types in the library and simply drag and drop into position and amend pitch etc. as required. Alternatively use the free form roof editor to create complex roof designs for more unusual shaped buildings. Easily edit the roof settings from pitch and eaves height right through to wood construction details. Then modify the roof easily with dedicated tools for dormer windows and skylights.

Create split level buildings

Not all building plots are level and often a design will need to include split levels within the building. This could range from a simple step-down kitchen through to a hillside home staggered with the slope of the site. By using the ‘multiple building’ concept within Arcon it is simple to overcome these design issues enabling you to create design solution perfectly suited to your plot requirements.

Create estates and multi-building developments

With the ability to create multiple buildings per project file, Arcon is flexible enough to enable you to design entire developments and plan estates. Easily save a design and load multiple copies into your project to create a complete development.

Integrate balconies and railings

Balconies can be attached to your floorplans using the simple balcony outline tool. Define the size and placement of the balcony and it will automatically integrate with your existing walls, placing parapet walls and/or railings where needed. Take full control of the railings to change style, size, and shape right down to specifying the fitting method. Use the independent railing tool to manually add rails around decks, walkways or gallery landings.

Advanced wall outline editing

Take full control of the profile of your walls for maximum design flexibility. Decide how and where walls interact with features such as stairs and roofs. Manually edit individual wall profiles to recreate unusual shapes, architectural features of even garden walls.

Modify existing walls with flexible editing tools

The Arcon system provides you with the flexibility to produce drawings in your own way and when you need to change your plans, nothing could be simpler. With a complete suite of wall editing options available, amending, modifying or adding to your drawings is quick and intuitive. Simply select the tool that matches what you want to change and edit the wall. With options to enable you to change lengths, angles, wall ends, splitting walls, merging and trimming walls you can always ensure your designs can evolve with your requirements.

View 2d & 3d views simultaneously

Whilst it only takes a single key press or click of the mouse to toggle between the 2d construction mode and the 3d design mode, there are occasions when you may want to see both at the same time. Simply enable the 3d preview and watch everything you draw in 2d replicated in 3d as you design.

Define the site, plot or landscape

Use the define landscape tool to mark the boundaries of your building plot or site. Break the area down into individual gardens, driveways and paths using the ground area tool. The add contours using the land topography tools or even individual height points for a realistic visualisation of your building plot.

Over 7000 furniture items and objects included

The standard library contains over 7000 3d models for the furnishing and fittings of your project. Included are objects for bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, dining, gardens, offices and many more. All objects can be amended and modified, resized and adjusted as required.

Over 1300 textures and materials for decoration

Apply textures to surfaces, objects, fixtures and fittings to change their appearance and style. The add materials to provide reflective surfaces, glass properties and mirrored finishes.

Increase your library with import options

Need a specific texture or object? Can’t find anything suitable in the library? Easily add to the library to increase your options. Textures can be added in the common bmp format, enabling you to take images from the web, catalogues or you own images. Furthermore add more 3d objects to your catalogue by using the import feature to import files in the widely used 3ds standard.

Enhance your 3d scene with picture backgrounds

Select from one of the photographic backgrounds included or use your own to provide a greater insight into how your design will look in situ.

Check lighting and shadows

By selecting to use the variable daylight settings to light your 3d model, you are able to select your location anywhere in the world by entering your latitude and longitude (which can be imported from Google Maps).

3D virtual walkthrough

Analyze your design in detail with the 3d walkthrough function. Enter and explore your 3d model to check for space issues and practicality of design. With animated door and window information, check your plans will work for you.